Lateral/Pre-Service Police Dispatcher

City of Fontana; Fontana (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits plan

Job summary

The City of Fontana is seeking a Police Dispatcher to answer 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls, prioritize requests, and dispatch units via CAD and radio systems. The role supports police operations and field coordination.

It requires experience or completion of POST coursework and strong communication under pressure. Typical shifts are 12 hours in the Dispatch Center; work includes multitasking, record keeping, and contributing to a safe community.

Qualifications

• Completion of the twelfth grade or equivalent.
• Successful completion of the P.O.S.T mandated dispatcher course.

Responsibilities

• Receive emergency and non-emergency calls and determine jurisdiction and response.
• Dispatch units per procedures using radio and CAD systems.
• Maintain unit status, coordinate with field personnel and other agencies.

Skills

Public communication

Typing 40 WPM

Decision making under pressure

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

P.O.S.T dispatcher course

Job description

Definition

Under general and/or immediate supervision, performs a variety of duties involved in answering 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls; analyze, prioritize, and enter calls for service via a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system; dispatch emergency personnel via multi-frequency radio system, telephone, or other communications equipment; record and monitor activities of field and communications personnel; receive incoming calls for police and emergency assistance and dispatch necessary units; perform a variety of general support duties related to dispatch activities; and related work as assigned on an assigned shift for the Police Department. Under general and/or immediate supervision, performs a variety of duties involved in receiving incoming calls for police and emergency assistance and dispatching necessary units; performs a variety of general support duties related to dispatch activities including record keeping, typing and filing; and monitors teletype communications.

Position Snapshot

The Fontana Police Dispatcher is a non-uniformed position. A typical shift is 12 hours, which predominantly takes place within the Dispatch Center of the Police Department. You will be a member of a productive team that operates in a fast-paced environment while answering calls from the public and communicating with department personnel in the field via phone, computer, or radio. This communication includes but is not limited to: call taking, working secondary and primary radio channels, collecting and/or passing information to partner jurisdictions, and accurate data entry. The goal of a Dispatcher is to serve the community through respectful, empathetic communication with a focus on problem-solving and maintaining professionalism.

Position Qualifications and Incentives

• Lateral Police Dispatcher must have completed a probationary period as a police dispatcher in a law enforcement agency. Lateral Police Dispatcher New-Hires Now Eligible for Incentive Pay! $5,000 paid upon hire and an additional $5,000 upon successful completion of probation.
• Pre-Service Police Dispatcher must have completed the California POST-mandated dispatcher course upon hire.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Police Dispatcher I - This is the entry level class in the Police Dispatcher series. Incumbents learn and perform a variety of duties involved in receiving, prioritizing, and transmitting emergency and non-emergency calls for service and dispatching the appropriate personnel in response to those calls. This class is distinguished from the Police Dispatcher II by the performance of the more routine tasks.

Police Dispatcher II - This is the journey level class in the Police Dispatcher series. Employees within this class are distinguished from the Police Dispatcher I level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned. Employees are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Positions in this class are normally filled from advancement from the I level, or when filled from the outside, require prior work experience and P.O.S.T certification. May participate in the training and evaluation of new communications staff.

Essential Functions

• Receive emergency and non-emergency calls, complaints, and inquiries from the public. Evaluate and analyze information to determine jurisdiction, necessity, and response needed.
• Determine the nature and location of emergency and non-emergency calls for service, including 9-1-1 calls, and prioritize response.
• Dispatch emergency and non-emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures. Use appropriate terminology and radio codes relaying to police personnel in the field via radio and mobile data computer terminals.
• Listen and comprehend radio transmissions from emergency personnel in the field; acknowledge, document, and comply with requests for action or information.
• Coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.
• Maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of police field units, checking periodically to verify location, activity, and status, supplying back-up personnel and taking other appropriate steps to provide for the safety of field personnel.
• Organize and coordinate activities of field units.
• Place telephone calls to other safety agencies, City departments, City emergency crews, tow companies, ambulance services, coroner, telephone and utility companies, and others to relay information or request services, maintaining detailed record of the time and nature of each call.
• Operate CAD equipment, enhanced 9-1-1 telephone system equipment, multi-frequency radio equipment, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), and other relative office equipment and systems.
• Perform a variety of record keeping, filing, indexing, and other general clerical work.
• Monitor radio channels for service requests from other jurisdictions and emergency radio traffic that may affect the City's operations.
• Monitor security cameras and license plate readers to provide real-time information to field units.
• Attend patrol briefings as assigned.
• Testify in court as needed.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information on wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen property/vehicles, and other information from computer and teletype networks including but not limited to California Law Enforcement Teletype System (CLETS), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Law Enforcement Teletype System (NLETS)/National Crime Information Center (NCIC), etc.
• Learn departmental policies and procedures for service requests.
• Read maps, memorize streets and major hundred blocks and reasonably apply this knowledge to service requests, field unit beat assignments, and coordination of response.
• Learn police codes, practices, and methods.
• Work under pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Effectively and courteously deal with the public, including irate, upset, and difficult callers during hectic, tense, and dangerous situations.
• Work various shifts as assigned, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Interact with co-workers at all levels in the organization in a collaborative and customer service-oriented manner.
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance.
• Perform all duties with the context of the City/Department's Mission Statement and Organizational Values.
• May perform occasional matron duties as assigned.
• Provide on-the-job training and technical guidance to new employees in the Dispatch Unit.
• Perform any other tasks or functions deemed necessary to the daily operations of the employer.
• Other duties as assigned.
• This position is always evolving. Therefore, employer reserves the right to modify this job description as necessary.

THE ABOVE LIST OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED AS NECESSARY BY THE EMPLOYER.

Working Conditions: Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily office activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and finger coordination in preparing and entering data, using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading correspondence and using the computer, and acute hearing is required when providing phone and counter service to the public. The need to lift, drag and push file, paper and documents weighing up to 25 pounds also is required.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Lateral Police Dispatcher

Must have completed a probationary period as a police dispatcher in a law enforcement agency.

Pre-Service Police Dispatcher

Completion of the California POST-mandated dispatcher course upon hire.

Police Dispatcher I

• Modern office equipment including computers and applicable software.
• Modern office procedures, practices, and equipment.
• Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Methods and techniques for record keeping.

Police Dispatcher II

• Standard operating procedures of police dispatching.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Police-related computer and teletype networks.
• Operational characteristics of standard office and dispatch equipment.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

Experience

Dispatcher I - One (1) year of work experience that involves a substantial amount of public contact. One (1) year of telephone and/or dispatch and general clerical experience is desirable.

Dispatcher II - Successful completion of the probationary period as a police dispatcher in a law enforcement agency.

Education

Dispatcher I - Completion of the twelfth grade, or equivalent.

Dispatcher II - Completion of the twelfth grade, or equivalent, and successful completion of the P.O.S.T. mandated dispatcher course.

In addition, advancement from a Police Dispatcher I to a II requires incumbent to demonstrate competence in all phases/duties/responsibilities of the position and have recommendation of a Communications Supervisor.

Licenses/Certifications

Possession of, and continuously throughout employment, a valid California Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent.

Typing Requirements

Candidates must be able to type at a minimum speed of 40 NET WPM. For Pre-Service applicants, a typing test certificate must be attached to your application in order to move forward in the recruitment process. Please review the .

Supplemental Information

Successful candidates will be required to pass a drug screening, fingerprint screening, physical examination and a background investigation.

Benefits

The City of Fontana has a flexible benefits plan. This plan allows for employees to select benefits based upon their individual needs. Full-time and Classified Part-time employees are eligible for benefits.